Malaysia seeks ASEAN role to resolve Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh, Jan. 19 -- Malaysia has urged Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the civil war in Myanmar's Rakhine state to find a long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis that affects Bangladesh in many ways.

"The civil war in the Rakhine state needs to be addressed by ASEAN if the long-term status of Rohingyas is to be fully resolved," said Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on Friday, the second day of a two-day ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in Vietnam.

He said as the likelihood of the return of Rohingya refugees remains unlikely and dangerous, the Myanmar government should first provide citizenship to the Rohingyas within its borders, estimated at some 500,000.

Minister Saifuddin said Malaysia maint...